More progress

Two skeins in. And miles to go before I sleep.

Progress

One skein in.

Formulating a Plan

Where were we? Ah yes, sleeves and a NYE deadline. All knitting was finished by 12/31, but it was in all the wrong places. The sleeves proved to be too long and the body was really too short and rode up in the back. I basted in the sleeves (thank the knitting gods I didn't seam them) to try it on and once I realized how it (didn't) fit, collapsed on the couch, depressed and with the sweater in a pile. Surprisingly, it did not lead to excessive drinking that night.

The sleeve length was fairly easy to correct. I put the sweater back on determined I needed to take out 2 1/2 inches. Since I had only basted the sleeves (again thank the knitting gods for not having to pick out a seam) I simply pulled them out, undid the bind off and unraveled the length I needed. This was actually a good thing, because I could use the extra yarn to add length to the body. The tough part would be figuring out how to add short rows.

If you've ever run into this problem yourself or had a question about short row placement in a sweater, I strongly encourage you to read this post by Meg Swansen on Ravelry. I'll wait...... Cool, right? Meg is so awesome. So taking her advice, I definitely wanted to add short rows between the underarms and bottom of the sweater to correct the back riding up. However, I also needed to add length overall. Given the cable design in this sweater, inserting rows was going to have to happen in one large chunk instead of in multiple spots.

I initially thought of cutting off the ribbing and inserting one pattern repeat there, but multiple problems arose with that approach. One full cable repeat would have added 5 inches, more than I needed. Grafting cables that travel every other row is crazy-making; doing it in dark brown yarn is insanity. As you can see in the image below, I knit a swatch to help me understand grafting cables. The red yarn is a lifeline in two spots, one to catch the row below the one I would unravel, the other to catch the row above.



What's really critical here is catching the row above the one to be taken out (I've ripped plenty of knitting to be comfortable picking up loose stitches the normal way they unravel). To insert these lifelines, I ran the scrap yarn through the live stitches of the row in question right after it was knit. I wanted to use this swatch to see how I would have to run my needle through the sweater to grab the stitches in the right place.

Brief aside: Cables that travel every other row mean that you have to either a) catch a row above and below a row on which you twist stitches, so you're catching two 'straight' knit rows and removing the 'twist' row OR b) catch two 'twist' rows and remove a 'straight' row. Either way, it's incredibly tricky. Why not just cut out the row without a lifeline and pick the stitches up that way? Well, you're either going to be picking up a twisted row (hard to get the stitches in the right order, not to mention they're upside down) or you going to have to graft a 'twisted' cable row. Yikes.

As you can see in the image, the scrap yarn practically disappears into the knit fabric, and this is a light colored yarn with a high contrast lifeline. I found I was able to follow the red yarn relatively easily through the cabled swatch, but replicating the lifeline path in the dark brown sweater proved too daunting. That plan was out.

At this point I set the sweater aside for awhile and knit on a hat instead. I finished that in a day or two and, with a refreshed perspective, could return my thoughts to the problem at hand. I knew my options were down to something involving a lot of ripping and re-knitting. Going back to Meg's suggestions on short row location, I feared I would have to frog the whole body and basically start over to insert short rows 4 and 8 inches from the bottom. Instead I decided to just rip out the body above the armholes to add length and short rows there. I would be able to continue the cable pattern in the extra length I added and then simply re-knit the top portions of the front and back. As an added bonus with this plan, I could simply set aside the frogged yarn (with a label on each ball to be reassembled later) and add length using up most of all the remaining yarn.

Short row insertion is currently underway. I'm adding three inches in overall length and three sets of short rows to help fix the back of the sweater. Hopefully it all works out.

WIP Wednesday: Sleeves edition

I've knit a couple inches since, but this is about where my sweater stood on Christmas Eve. In other words, unfinished. I was making good progress and I swear the end was in sight. What really screwed me was having to add about 3 inches to each sleeve. I don't know why, but the measurements in the pattern would've left me with the sleeve equivalent of floods.

I technically had the Friday before off work, but that ended up being just a cruel joke. I decided, after staying up knitting until 2:30 a.m. Thursday night, that I'd rather save my sanity and enjoy what little time I did have off instead of driving myself crazy trying to squeeze in stitches here and there. It ended up being the right decision, and surprisingly, this turned out to be the most enjoyable Christmas holiday I've had in a while. Whether that was due to a lower stress level from no deadline knitting or the alcohol I consumed, I'm not really going to question it.

I've got a little less than one full repeat left on sleeve #2, then these need to be blocked and seamed to the sweater body. The body itself is finished, seamed at the shoulders and blocked. All that remains is to knit the neck band. New deadline: New Years Eve.

P.S. Another good thing about not finishing in time: I would've ROASTED at my in-laws on Christmas Eve. Thirty people in one house plus the oven running all day... I was sweating in a dress shirt.

P.P.S. On of my commenters had asked, so I'll let you know the pattern is Man's Intertwined Cables Pullover by Melissa Leapman from Cables Untangled.

WIP Wednesday: Part 2

As promised, a current up-to-date WIP post...


A rare accurate progress shot

If you haven't been paying attention, check out what a fast knitter I am! This is the back done and front about halfway there. I wanted to get 4 inches done today, an inch at lunch and 3 this evening, which would set me up to start the neck opening. I did pretty well at lunch, hopefully tonight isn't chaotic at home and I can get some knitting time in.

I briefly thought about using short rows to work the back shoulder decreases. It would have allowed for a three needle bind-off at the shoulder, but in the end I just decided to bind-off per the instructions. I was a little worried the TNBO would stretch the wrapped stitches and be harder to fix if it did. With hand seaming, I should be better able to control that.

To finish the body, I'll definitely get into a 12th skein, but I don't think it will take all of it. That leaves 8+ skeins for the sleeves and neck. My next decision, which I just realized, is whether to knit both sleeves at once or one at a time. Originally I was planning to knit both at once, but if I were to knit one and find that it takes more than four skeins of yarn, I'd know sooner that I would need more yarn. I really can't imagine sleeves on a modified drop shoulder sweater taking more than four skeins each, but can I risk the alternative?

Somewhere in the back of my mind is a voice yelling that I can calculate how many stitches, in pattern, are in a ball of yarn and how many rows a sleeve will take, but oy ... it's making my head hurt.

WIP Wednesday: Part 1

This is actually from last week Wednesday, I'm hoping to have another update later today after knitting at lunch.

At this point, I was just about to bind off for the armholes. In fact, I believe I did that step that evening. It took me three tries. I kept binding off on the wrong row, which would have had me cabling on the wrong side.

I added 1/2" in length to the lower body. I originally thought I would add more, but I got worried about adding too much length. I'm assuming this will grow when blocked and I also didn't want to and length at the expense of using up too much yarn. That's the problem with deadline knitting. I want to have this done by Christmas Eve so I can wear it to our holiday gatherings. If I mess up and run out of yarn or add too much length, I won't have time to rip and re-knit.

And So It Begins

Having ripped out 6 rows worth of knitting after starting with a twisted cast on, I've got a good two inches done on the body of my sweater. I'm trying to keep my arms and hands loose with lots of stretching, so hopefully I don't go down with another injury on this one. I'm glad I started before the Thanksgiving break; I should have a lot of time this weekend to knit.

P.S. Good on ya for following my train of thought on having my arms fall off whilst knitting this sweater. I'm starting with the body in case I run out of yarn too so I can just make a vest.

Swatch Watch

I'm nearly done with crocheting squares and good thing too. I'm getting a tad sick of making them. If I can get to 120, I'll start sewing together a 10x12 afghan. But enough about that.



For quite a while now, I've wanted a dark brown sweater with cables. Why? Because I saw a friend wear one and thought, hey that looks nice, I'd like one. I bought the yarn with my birthday money and it's sat around quite long enough. I'd like to think I can finish this in time to wear it for Christmas Eve, but my arms may just fall off. We shall see.

Craaaaaaaaap

So yeah, that neckline's not gonna work...

And now you can totally see the difference in yarns. Who knew skeins of undyed yarn could look different?

*sigh*

I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally don't want to rip and re-knit. Especially since I don't have a clue how to fix it. Other than changing how the sleeves are attached.

*pout*

Practice Makes Perfect

One of the many great things about having a baby is practicing techniques on small knits. I've had plans to knit Elizabeth Zimmermann's January Aran Cardigan for years now. Two winters ago I knit a swatch cap to see how the cables would turn out in my selected yarn. Last week, after tiring of my sock knitting, I decided a small scale sweater would be the perfect next step in inching my way toward an actual cardigan for myself. (As it turned out, I cast on the same number of stitches for this baby sweater as I did for my hat. Yes son, your chest will soon be as big as my head.)



After all, I needed to test shoulder construction/sleeve insertion and *gasp* a steek! Yes, that's right, I plan to cut my knitting. I finished the knitting yesterday afternoon and sat on my couch staring at the sweater for most of the evening. Finally I researched a crocheted steek (I used this tutorial which, while verbose, was ultimately helpful) since I don't own a sewing machine, found some yarn and just went for it. I find that's the best approach when facing something intimidating, plunge right in before your anxiety can overcome you. So far so good, in the right photo, you can see I've already started picking up for the button band. Eunny's tute suggested thinner, high contrast, feltable yarn, so that's why I used the yellow and brown scrap sock yarn you see. I figure it will end up a fun little hidden detail in the end.

For Mojo

C'mon Red Wings. Let's do this.

This is what we brought E home in (over a month ago!). I knit it in about a week. It's a top-down raglan sweater with no shaping whatsoever, therefore the front of the collar sits a bit high. I did insert a placket on the left shoulder to make it easier to get on. I then sewed two or three snaps in to close it. I had initially intended to put buttons on, but snaps are SO much easier to manage on a squirming baby. And boy does he squirm.

I knit the logo across the chest as I went after I initially planned to use duplicate stitch. If I recall correctly, I was feeling pressed for time and thought this would be faster. I'm glad I did it this way, I think it looks better. To manage it in the round, I cut long lengths of the white yarn and started the first row in the middle of that length of yarn. I then had approximately the same length left waiting for me when I came around for the next row. Lather, rinse, repeat.

It ended up being a tad long, but hopefully that means he can wear it again when hockey resumes this fall. He's little guy, but he's also gaining weight quickly. If he outgrows it, I'll be knitting another one.

Am I Crazy?

For some strange reason, I feel the itch to knit a sweater. Now, to be completely honest, I've been contemplating sweaters for months now. I have all sorts of aspirations to knit complex Aran cardigans and even have yarn to knit a few. But that's not what I'm talking about this time. I feel the sudden desire for a simple, clean, raglan sweater. No cables, no stitch pattern, just miles of stockinette and some ribbing on the edges; maybe go crazy and turn it into a cardigan with a shawl collar.

Why? I have no idea. With all the knitting I already have planned this month - boot socks and mittens for The Big Chill at The Big House (Go Blue!), a Christmas gift or two, obligatory baby knits - my knitting queue is pretty full. Yet here I stand on Nov. 2 staring down the fact that the only completed sweater I knit for myself took over two months. I don't know if it's the allure of NaKniSweMo, but the sweater beckons nonetheless. The last time I tried deadline knitting a sweater - Ravelympics 2010 - I gave up before I even started. At least, if I do decide to do this as part of NaKniSweMo, I have more time.

Back to Knitting

What have I been knitting on? Think you can guess from a photo? Those of you on Ravelry can easily figure it out by looking at my projects page, but that's cheating.



Here are a few hints/details:

• It is knit in garter stitch
• It is knit with miters (the corners you can see above are made by increasing)
• It is knit in sock yarn, in this case, Knit Picks Memories that I overdyed with yellow
• It has a unique construction
• It is a garment for a baby or small child
• You could make a larger version simply by using larger needles and thicker yarn
• I only cast on 3 stitches to start!

Give up? You didn't try very hard! Ok, it is this pattern. How many of you guessed the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann? Close but no cigar. I've had this pattern in my Rav queue for quite a while and finally decided to try it out. I've been struggling with what to use this particular yarn for (aside from socks) and I think this is perfect. The constant increases change the stitch count every row, which really helps avoid much pooling. I'm almost to the point of starting the sleeves, so things will start to get really interesting. I have a couple more patterns by this designer in my queue, I'm excited to try out other unique constructions.

P.S. Check out another photo of the same project. Amazing what different lighting will do to a photo. The photo at the top of this post was taken mid-morning, this photo was taken late-evening.

Check Out My Big Ten Inch...

... sweater for a man that's knit in blue ...

I've knit over half the length to the under arm, which is where you join the sleeves and things get exciting again. I'm really happy with the progess I'm making, I knit on this a little bit each day. Making hats in between has definitely helped with little bursts of instant gratification.

It's been tough working this 51" sweater on a 40" circular needle, but all is well now that I've gotten my new 47" cable from Knit Picks. Oddly enough, it came with 10 skeins of yarn as packing material. Weird.

My Second First Sweater

I've been jonesing to knit myself a sweater for a while and when I saw eight skeins of Bartlettyarns Fisherman 2-ply for $25 shipped on a Ravelry destash, I knew the time had finally come. I originally thought I would knit EZ's Aran Cardigan and set about knitting a swatch cap. Unfortunately, I misread her instructions and attempted to squeeze 5 stitches into one inch. Let me tell you, knitting cables with a true aran weight yarn on size 5 needles is no picnic. However, once I got straight with the gauge, I found that my cable patterns looked like crap. I thought to myself, "I can make this much nicer with Cascade" and promptly frogged.

After having knit several stockinette swatches with garter borders, I rather fell in love with the look. I laid in bed that night thinking, "Maybe I'll just knit a simple raglan sweater with garter borders. Oh, and I could even do a line of garter up the side for more interest." And then I realized what I was envisioning: Jared Flood's Cobblestone. Well then, aren't I a genius?

Next morning I cast on for a sleeve and was off to the races. The yarn is a bit stiff to work with, but I think I've gotten used to it. It definitely softens up after a good washing. The only troubles I've had so far are with the cable length on my circular needle (it's almost too short to knit the body comfortably) and knitting garter stitch in the round. It wasn't much of an issue with the sleeves, but switching from knit to purl and back at the end of the round on the body has created a weak spot where the fabric wants to fold. I'm hoping it will block out, but I'm planning to try the jogless garter stitch employed by Alice here for the yoke.

I'm now into the endless sea of stockinette that is the body of a man sized sweater. The garter panels at the side break things up enough to keep it interesting, but I don't really mind all the stockinette. I've been in the mood for something mindless for quite a while now.